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E374: Why the Best Investors Prepare for Crashes Before They Happen

E374: Why the Best Investors Prepare for Crashes Before They Happen

Episode 374 Published 2 months ago
Description
What if the key to outperforming isn’t taking more risk—but building a portfolio strong enough to survive volatility without breaking? In this episode, I sit down with Doug Hanly, CIO of the Louisiana State Police Retirement System, to discuss why liquidity, simplicity, and process are the foundations of durable investing. Doug explains why he views short-term government credit as the “supply depots” of a portfolio, how preparation during calm periods creates opportunities during crises, and why avoiding mistakes matters more than chasing complexity. We also explore governance, manager selection, portfolio construction, and how small incremental improvements compound into long-term outperformance.

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions expressed in this material and oral presentation are the author's and not necessarily those of the Louisiana State Police Retirement System, the Board of Trustees of the Louisiana State Police Retirement System, or the State of Louisiana. The statements and conclusions in this material and oral presentation are not binding on the State of Louisiana and its agencies, officers, and employees and do not alter the law of the State of Louisiana or policies of the Louisiana State Police Retirement System. In the event of a conflict between the material contained in this document and the applicable law, regulation, or policy, then the law, regulation, or policy is controlling.

Highlights:

  • Why liquidity creates optionality during market dislocations
  • The hidden risk of fragile portfolios during crises
  • Why simplicity often outperforms complexity in investing
  • How governance shapes long-term investment outcomes
  • The importance of “killing weak ideas early”
  • Why smaller specialist managers often outperform larger funds
  • How incremental improvements compound into durable alpha
  • The role of preparation and psychology during drawdowns

Guest Bio:

Doug Hanly, CFA, CAIA, is the Chief Investment Officer of the Louisiana State Police Retirement System, where he oversees total portfolio strategy across public and private markets for the $1.5 billion pension fund. He previously held investment roles at Atala Financial, Windrose Advisors, Mass General Brigham, and the Washington University Investment Management Company. Doug also teaches hedge funds at LSU, founded the Next CIO Institute, and is known for his disciplined approach to governance, risk management, and institutional portfolio construction.

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Sponsor:

AlphaSense is the AI-powered market intelligence platform trusted by 85% of the S&P 100, helping investment professionals make faster, more confident, data-driven decisions. Built for hedge funds, asset allocators, private venture capital firms, and investment bankers, AlphaSense uses advanced AI and powerful search across premium proprietary content to surface the insights that matter most—before the market moves. Elevate your research and stay ahead of the competition. Visit https://www.alpha-sense.com/howiinvest/ to learn more.

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LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/doughanly/

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